Intelligent cellular communications gateway device, system, and method

ABSTRACT

A device, system, and method include receiving via a first network, by a remote computer server, a customized application from, a user. The customized application is transmitted, by the remote computer server, to one or more intelligent cellular communications gateway devices. The customized application can be automatically installed and configured. Each intelligent cellular communications gateway device can receive local information from a device. The local information is analyzed and the local device can be controlled by the intelligent cellular communications gateway device based oft the analyzed local information. In addition, the intelligent cellular communications gateway device can filter and/or compress the local information, and transmit via a cellular network, the filtered and compressed information, to the remote computer server. The filtered and compressed information includes a portion of the local information that is less than a total amount of the local information received, thereby conserving bandwidth of the cellular network.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority from commonlyassigned U.S. application Ser. No. 13/546,501, filed Jul. 11, 2012,which claims the benefit of commonly assigned U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/512,355, filed Jul. 27, 2011, which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application pertains to communication devices, and moreparticularly, to an intelligent cellular communications gateway device,a system incorporating the device, and method for using the same.

BACKGROUND

Conventional cellular routers provide the ability to route informationbetween local devices and remote devices via a cellular network. Forexample, owners of truck fleets may put cellular routers in each truckso that information can be transmitted between the trucks and a centralserver. Buildings may include cellular rooters to transmit informationabout the buildings to a remote database or the like. Taxi-cabs oremergency vehicles may also have such renters to communicate informationto and from a centralized network or server. These are but a few examplesystems in which cellular routers can be used.

The cost of transmitting data through, a cellular router and/or via acellular network is typically based, on a per-megabyte bandwidth model.In other words, the cost to operate a cellular router is directlyproportional to the amount of data transmitted via the cellular network.Even if some of the data being transmitted is superfluous, or otherwisenot pertinent or useful, the cost for operating the cellular router willbe higher because all of the data that is transmitted is countedrelative to the cost of operation. Traditional cellular rooters do notdiscern the type or quality of data being transmitted, nor do theyfilter or omit unnecessary data. Moreover, as the sheer quantity ofinformation transmitted over cellular networks increases, networkbottlenecks and inefficiencies are increasingly common.

Accordingly, a need remains for an intelligent cellular communicationsgateway, which includes intelligence “at the edge” for controlling localdevices, and for filtering, consolidating, and/or compressing data sothat bandwidth usage can be reduced, network efficiency improved, andcost savings realized. In addition, needs remain for providing theability to remotely and automatically install and execute applicationsand configurations on multiple cellular communications gateways.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of an intelligentcellular communications gateway device within a larger system inaccordance with various Inventive concepts of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another example embodiment of anintelligent cellular communications gateway device within a largersystem including various operational components and communicationinterfaces.

FIG. 3A shows a diagram of an example embodiment of one or moreintelligent cellular communications gateway devices receiving anautomatic application transfer from a server.

FIG. 3B shows a diagram of an example embodiment of one or moreintelligent cellular communications gateway devices receiving anautomatic application transfer from a personal computer or one of avariety of mobile smart devices.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of an example embodiment of an intelligentcellular communications gateway device receiving an automaticapplication transfer directly from a personal computer or laptopcomputer.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of another example embodiment of anintelligent cellular communications gateway device including additionalcommunication interfaces.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a technique for configuring a customizedapplication on one or more intelligent cellular communications gatewaydevices, filtering and transmitting information via a cellular network.

The foregoing and other features of the invention will become momreadily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceedswith reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the inventiveconcept examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth to enable a thorough understanding of the inventive concept. Itshould be understood, however, that persons having ordinary skill in theart may practice the inventive concept without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components,circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not tounnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc, maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another. For example, a first network interface could betermed a second network interface, and, similarly, a second networkinterface could be termed a first network interface, without departingfrom the scope of the inventive concept.

The terminology used in the description of the inventive concept hereinis for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is notintended to be limiting of the inventive concept. As used in thedescription of the inventive concept and the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It willalso be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to andencompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification,specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations,elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence oraddition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations,elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention provide the capability of embeddingcustomer applications and/or business logic into an intelligent cellularcommunications gateway. Although referred to herein as a “gateway,” itshould be understood that this term can include a router, programmablelogic controller (PLC), or the like. Methods and devices for expandingthe functionality of a traditional gateway are disclosed herein, whichallow the gateway to perform additional tasks at the discretion of theend user.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of an intelligentcellular communications gateway device 100 within a larger system inaccordance with various inventive concepts of the present invention. Thecellular gateway 100 provides the capability to remotely load, store,update, and execute customized embedded applications, scripts, and/orbusiness logic (e.g., 105) at the discretion of the end user. Byproviding “intelligence at the edge,” the cellular gateway 100 cananalyze, filter, and/or compress data before transmitting the data via acellular network. In this manner, extraneous usage can be reduced. Sincethe cost of bandwidth usage over a cellular network is typically basedon a per-size-unit (e.g., per-megabyte) basis, cost savings are realizedby filtering redundant data transmissions. Furthermore, a scriptinglanguage can be used to allow business logic to be installed onto thecellular gateway 100 without the need to compile a binary (i.e.,executable) file. For the sake of brevity and consistency, thecustomized remotely loadable embedded applications, scripts, and/orbusiness logic 105 are generally referred to herein, as simplycustomized or embedded applications.

For example, an application such as the data analyzer 120, the datafilter 110, the data compressor 115, the data optimizer 130, and/or thelocal device controller 132, can be embedded into the intelligentcellular communications gateway device 100. One or more of theseembedded applications can provide, for instance, the capability tomonitor and/or control devices or environments that are local relativeto the gateway device 100. The term “local” can mean, for example,within a same building as the intelligent cellular communicationsgateway device, or alternatively, within a given local radius or arearelative to the intelligent cellular communications gateway device 100(e.g., within a 1 mile local radius of the device 100, a 0.5 mile localradius of the device 100, a 0.1 mile local radius of the device, and soforth).

The gateway 100 can control a local device 140 using the local devicecontroller 132 embedded application. For example, the local device 140can be a furnace or air-conditioning unit, and the local devicecontroller 132 of the intelligent cellular gateway device 100 cancontrol the power levels or other settings to the furnace orair-conditioning unit 140. Furthermore, the gateway device 100 canreceive local temperature information from the furnace orair-conditioning unit, and in response to the local information, monitorand/or control the temperature within a building 135. For example, ifthe temperature crosses a predefined threshold, the intelligent cellulargateway device 100 can adjust one or more settings of the furnace orair-conditioning unit. In addition, a message can be sent via a cellularnetwork 145 to a remote server 150 to note that the heater or furnacewas enabled or disabled, that the temperature is of a certain level,that the furnace or air-conditioning unit was recently adjustedoperationally, or any older suitable information about the furnaceand/or air-conditioning unit or the associated environment.

Traditionally this type of functionality would have required at leasttwo separate devices (in addition, to the local device), such as arouter and a programmable logic controller that had been preconfiguredwith the appropriate business logic and application. This complicatesthe management and operation because there are multiple separate deviceshaving different configuration parameters, power connections, rackspace, and so forth. Configuration of such disparate devices ischallenging and inefficient. Moreover, if a conventional router is usedin such a combination, it must transmit all of the temperatureinformation each time the temperature is monitored, thereby increasingthe costs of operating the cellular router.

Embodiments of the present invention address these and otherlimitations. For instance, the data analyzer 120 can analyze data priorto being transmitted via the cellular network 145. If the data analyzer120 determines that certain data is not useful or is otherwisesuperfluous information, or is information that ought not to betransmitted via the cellular network for any suitable reason, then suchinformation is prevented from being transmitted via the cellularnetwork, thereby reducing the amount of bandwidth consumed over thecellular link when transmitting data to a remote server. The data filter110 can filter or omit any superfluous data. Alternatively, or inaddition to, the data compressor 115 can compress the data to improvethe efficiency of the transmission.

In addition, the data optimizer 130 can reorganize, prioritize, orotherwise optimize the data, for more efficient transmission. Forexample, higher priority portions of the data can always be transmittedover the cellular network, while lower priority portions of the data canbe closely discriminated against, and transmitted only if otherconditions are met such as a low total cellular bandwidth consumption.Moreover, the local device controller 132 can control one or more localdevices. Multiple applications can be embedded such that each task isperformed by a separate application. In some embodiments, a singleembedded application analyzes, filters, compresses, and/or optimizes thedata prior to transmission via the cellular network. Accordingly,cellular bandwidth is conserved.

It will be understood that while the example of a furnace system orair-conditioning unit is described herein, which includes remotereporting, remote control, and/or local control, or the like, via acellular network using art intelligent gateway, such description isincluded as an example or illustrative embodiment. Other local devices(i.e., local relative to the cellular communications gateway device)that may be situated, for example, within buildings, oil fields, powergrids, space ports, or the like, and which may be controlled locally bythe intelligent gateway devices, while also providing reporting and/orcontrol features, either locally or remotely via the cellular network,using one or more intelligent cellular communications gateway deviceshaving customized embedded applications pushed onto the devices, alsofalls within the inventive concepts and scope of the various embodimentsof the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of another example embodiment of anintelligent cellular communications gateway device 100 within a largersystem including various operational components and communicationinterfaces.

The communications gateway 100 can include a processor 205, an internalstorage device 210, memory 215, and communication busses 220 to supportconnectivity to peripheral devices or interlaces. In addition, thecommunications gateway can include the customized embedded applications105. The communications gateway 100 may also include externally attachedstorage 212. The communications gateway device 100 may receive thecustomized embedded applications 105 using the externally attachedstorage 212. Any combination of wired or wireless (e.g., radiofrequency) interfaces may also be embedded or externally tethered. Forinstance, one or more of the communication busses 220 can be coupled toone or more Ethernet interlaces 225, one or more serial interfaces 235,one or more radio interfaces 230, and/or one or more general purposeinput/output interfaces 240. Local information 250 can be collectedlocally using the interfaces 225,230, 235, and/or 240, then processed bythe embedded applications (e.g., 110, 115, 120, 130, and/or 132 of thecustomized embedded applications 105). Once analyzed and filtered, aportion 255 of the locally gathered information 250 can be transmittedto a remote server 150 or database via a cellular network 145. In otherwords, less than the total gathered local information 250 can betransmitted to the remote server 150 or database, thereby conservingcellular bandwidth, and therefore reducing the overall cost of operatingthe system. Over time, different filtered portions (e.g., 255) of thelocally gathered information 250 can be periodically transmitted to theremote server 150 via the cellular network 145, while preventing thetransfer of all of the locally gathered information 250, therebyreducing bandwidth on the cellular network 145 and the cost of operatingthe system. In addition, the embedded applications can use the localinformation 250 to determine when and how to control other devices(e.g., a building furnace or oil field equipment, etc.) in the general,vicinity of the cellular gateway.

The cellular gateway 100 can include an embedded operating systemcapable of scheduling execution of embedded applications, software,firmware, or the like, as well as customized applications and/orbusiness logic installed on the gateway. Embedded applications can bestored on the gateway device 100 using internal storage 210 (e.g., flashmemory, magnetic harddrive, or other suitable memory or storage device,etc.) or via a tethered storage device 212 (e.g., compact flash, USBflash drive, SD Card, or other suitable memory or storage device, etc),

Applications running on the communications gateway device are run withina protected framework (e.g., 104 of FIG. 1), providing controls upon theprocessor 205, the internal storage 210, and memory usage of the memory215. The gateway operating system 207 has the ability to dynamicallycontrol resource allocation to running the embedded applications,scripts, and/or business logic 105 based upon multiple factors,including system load, the local information 250 received at theexternal inputs (e.g., 225, 230, 235, and/or 240), and/or remote controlvia the server 150.

FIG. 3A shows a diagram of an example embodiment of one or moreintelligent cellular communications gateway devices (e.g., 100, 99, and98) receiving an automatic application transfer 320 from a remote server315. The customized applications, scripts, and/or business logic can beautomatically transferred to and installed by the operating system 207on the cellular gateway 100 via the use of one or more servers 315designed for this purpose. Moreover, the customized applications,scripts, and/or business logic can be transferred or substantiallysimultaneously broadcast to multiple cellular gateways (e.g., 100, 99,and 98, etc). The remote server 315 provides a user interface 317, or inother words a single access point, to allow an end user 319 to manageand load applications on their gateway devices. The customizedapplications may also be substantially simultaneously installed and/orconfigured by each operating system on the multiple cellular gateways.

The end user need not log directly into any of the cellular gateway(s)to install or configure the application. Rather, the end userconveniently interfaces with the centralized user interface 317 providedby the server 315. For example, the end user can upload an executable tothe server 315, and the server 315 can communicate with the cellulargateways (e.g., 100, 99, and/or 98) via a network 305 (e.g., such as theInternet), and cause the customized executable to be automaticallytransferred (e.g., at 320), installed, and/or configured on the cellulargateway(s) via either the same network 305, or alternatively, via adifferent network 307 (e.g., such as a cellular network). The customizedapplication can be stored on the embedded storage device (e.g., 210,209, and 208, respectively) and/or the externally attached storagedevice (e.g., 212, 206, and 204, respectively).

Moreover, it is often the case that multiple cellular gateways are ownedby or otherwise associated with a single entity or individual. This iscommon in networked “smart” buildings, truck fleets, oil or gas fields,emergency medical fleets, law enforcement vehicles, taxi cabs, and soforth. In such case, the server 315 can receive the customizedapplication from the end user, and can communicate with each of themultiple cellular gateways 100 via the network 305 (e.g., Internet)and/or the network 307 (e.g., cellular network), and cause thecustomized executable to be automatically transferred (e.g., at 320),installed, and/or configured on each of the multiple cellular gateways.Such automatic transferring, installing, and/or configuring can takeplace simultaneously relative to each of the cellular gateways.Alternatively, each of the multiple cellular gateways can beautomatically configured (i.e., the application can be automaticallytransferred, installed, and/or configured on one cellular gateway, andthen a similar procedure can be automatically carried out on anothercellular gateway associated with the same owner or entity). In thisfashion, the customized application is rapidly distributed to multiplecellular gateway devices.

FIG. 3B shows a diagram of an example embodiment of one or moreintelligent cellular communications gateway devices (e.g., 100, 99, and98, etc.) receiving an automatic application transfer 320 from a userdevice such as a personal computer 330 or one of a variety of mobilesmart devices (e.g., laptop 340, tablet 325, and/or smart phone 335).The methods of transferring the customized applications from one or moreof the personal computer 330, laptop 340, tablet 325, and smart phone335 to the one or more intelligent cellular communication gatewaydevices (e.g., 100, 99, and 98, etc.) is similar to the methodsdescribed above with reference to FIG. 3A, and therefore for the sake ofbrevity, the detailed description of these methods is not repeated.

FIG. 4 shows a diagram of an example embodiment of an intelligentcellular communications gateway device 100 receiving an automaticapplication transfer (e.g., 420 and/or 430) directly from a personalcomputer (PC) 415 or laptop computer 425. The embedded applications canbe loaded and managed on the gateway device 100 via a directly connectedcomputing device (e.g., PC 415) running software designed for thispurpose. In other words, a network need not be used to transfer thecustomized applications to the cellular gateway devices. Putdifferently, the user device can directly transmit, without the use of anetwork, the customized application to the one or more intelligentcellular communications gateway devices. The methods for transferringthe customized applications are otherwise similar to those describedabove with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, and therefore for the sake ofbrevity, the detailed description of these methods is not repeated.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of another example embodiment of anintelligent cellular communications gateway device 100 includingadditional communication interfaces. For instance, the cellular gateway100 can include a Bluetooth® interface 505, a global positioning system(GPS) interface 510, a cellular network interface 515, a Wi-Fi™interface 520, a Zigbee® interface 525, and/or a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) interface 530, among other suitable interfaces.One or more of such interfaces can be used to collect the localinformation 250 (of FIG. 250), which can be used by the embeddedapplications to control other devices in the vicinity of the cellulargateway, or to communicate information to the remote server.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of a technique for configuring a customizedapplication on one or more intelligent cellular communications gatewaydevices, filtering, and transmitting information via a cellular network.

The technique begins at 605 where a customized application is receivedfrom the end user at the central and/or remote server. The applicationcan be received, for example, by the server 315 via a network such asthe Internet. The application is then transmitted to one or mom cellularcommunications gateway devices at 610. At 615, the application isautomatically installed and configured on the one or more gatewaydevices, as described in detail above. In operation, a determination ismade at 620 whether local information has been received at the cellulargateway 100 through one or more local communication interfaces. If YES,the flow proceeds to 630, and the local information is analyzed. At 632,a local device is controlled based on the analyzed local informationusing the customized embedded application(s). At 634, the localinformation is filtered, compressed, or otherwise optimized using thecustomized embedded application(s). Subsequently, only a portion of thelocal information (e.g., filtered data) is transmitted via the cellularnetwork at 635 so that cellular bandwidth is conserved.

Otherwise, if the determination at 620 is NO, or in other words, noadditional local information has been received, another determination ismade at 625 whether data is currently being transmitted via the cellularnetwork. If YES, the flow proceeds to steps 630, 632, 634, and 635discussed above. Otherwise, the flow returns to 620 and additional localinformation is gathered for further processing.

The end user or owner of the intelligent cellular communications gatewaydevice can purchase and cause to be installed applications that havebeen approved by the provider of the gateway device, so that the endriser can customize their gateway device to their liking. By doing sothe end user has created a unique software image on their gateway devicewithout the direct interaction of the device manufacturer, althoughwithin known operating characteristics of the approved application.

This capability is useful, for example, in machine to machine (M2M)applications. This allows the communications gateway to perform taskssuch as data analysis and filtering locally on board the gateway. We areterming this “Intelligence at the edge.” In addition, this capabilityallows software, such as device drivers, to be remotely installed andconfigured to add support for additional device peripherals, which canbe connected to the gateway platform. Peripheral interface options mayinclude, but are not limited to, serial (asynchronous and synchronous),Ethernet, cellular, universal serial bus (USB), Wi-Fi™ (802.11), Zigbee®(802.16.3), radio frequency identification (RFID), vehicle diagnostics(OBD-II, CAN, IBUS, J-1708, J-1939), Bluetooth®, global positioningsystem (GPS), cameras, audio interfaces devices, and/or general purposeinput/output (GPIO).

This gateway platform when equipped with an embedded or tetheredcellular WAN (data) radio can act as a programmable logic controller(PLC). The capability to embed applications allows local data analysisand/or filtering to determine “useful” information to send to a remoteserver. Traditional cellular gateways or routers lack this filteringcapability and thus send all collected data to a server for analysis.The conventional method is inefficient. Also, using embodiments of theinvention, the amount of traffic sent to the server can be optimized. Insome embodiments, the WAN connection is cellular, and this gives the endcustomer or user the ability to utilize a lower rate plan due to thereduced bandwidth requirements.

This application embedding capability also gives the ability to makecontrol decisions based upon locally collected data.

The following discussion is intended to provide a brief, generaldescription of a suitable machine or machines in which certain aspectsof the invention can be implemented. Typically, the machine or machinesinclude a system bus to which is attached processors, memory, e.g.,random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), or other statepreserving medium, storage devices, a video interlace, and input/outputinterface ports. The machine or machines can be controlled, at least inpart, by input from conventional input devices, such as keyboards, mice,etc., as well as by directives received from another machine,interaction with a virtual reality (VR) environment, biometric feedback,or other input signal. As used herein, the term “machine” is intended tobroadly encompass a single machine, a virtual machine, or a system ofcommunicatively coupled machines, virtual machines, or devices operatingtogether. Exemplary machines include computing devices such as personalcomputers, workstations, servers, portable computers, handheld devices,telephones, tablets, etc,, as well as transportation devices, such asprivate or public transportation, e.g., automobiles, trains, cabs, etc.

The machine or machines can include embedded controllers, such asprogrammable or non-programmable logic devices or arrays, ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), embedded computers, smart cards,and the like. The machine or machines can utilize one or moreconnections to one or more remote machines, such as through a networkinterface, modem, or other communicative coupling. Machines can beinterconnected by way of a physical and/or logical, network, such as anintranet, the Internet, local area networks, wide area networks, etc.One skilled in the art will appreciated that network communication canutilize various wired and/or wireless short range or long range carriersand protocols, including radio frequency (RF), satellite, microwave,institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 545.11,Bluetooth®, optical, infrared, cable, laser, etc.

Embodiments of the invention, can be described by reference to or inconjunction with associated data including functions, procedures, datastructures, application programs, etc. which when accessed by a machineresults in the machine performing tasks or defining abstract data typesor low-level hardware contexts. Associated data can be stored in, forexample, the volatile and/or non-volatile memory, e.g., RAM, ROM, etc.,or in other storage devices and their associated storage media,including hard-drives,, floppy-disks, optical storage, tapes, flashmemory, memory sticks, digital video disks, biological storage, etc.Associated data can be delivered over transmission environments,including the physical and/or logical network, in the form of packets,serial data, parallel data, propagated signals, etc., and can be used ina compressed or encrypted format. Associated data can be used in adistributed environment, and stored locally and/or remotely for machineaccess.

Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention withreference to illustrated embodiments, it will be recognized that theillustrated embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detailwithout departing from such principles, and can be combined in anydesired manner. And although the foregoing discussion has focused onparticular embodiments, other configurations are contemplated. Inparticular, even though expressions such as “according to an embodimentof the invention” or the like are used herein, these phrases are meantto generally reference embodiment possibilities, and are not intended tolimit the invention to particular embodiment configurations. As usedherein, these terms can reference the same or different embodiments thatam combinable into other embodiments.

Embodiments of the invention may include a non-transitorymachine-readable medium comprising instructions executable by one or momprocessors, the instructions comprising instructions to perform theelements of the inventive concepts as described herein.

Consequently, in view of the wide variety of permutations to theembodiments described herein, this detailed description and accompanyingmaterial is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken aslimiting the scope of the invention. What is claimed as the invention,therefore, is all such modifications as may come within the scope andspirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.

1. A method for providing intelligence at the edge using one or moreintelligent cellular communications gateway devices, the methodcomprising: receiving via a first network, by a remote computer server,a customized application from a user; transmitting, fey the remotecomputer server, the customized application to the one or moreintelligent cellular communications gateway devices; automaticallyinstalling the customize, application; automatically configuring thecustomized application; receiving, by the one or mom intelligentcellular communications gateway devices, local information from a devicethat is local relative to the one or more intelligent cellularcommunications gateway devices; analyzing, by the one or moreintelligent cellular communications gateway devices, the localinformation; controlling, by the one or more intelligent cellularcommunications gateway devices, the device that is local relative to theone or mom intelligent cellular communications gateway devices, based onthe analyzed local information; filtering, by the one or moreintelligent cellular communications gateway devices, the localinformation; and transmitting via a cellular network, by the one or moreintelligent cellular communications gateway devices, the filtered localinformation, to the remote computer server, wherein the filtered localinformation includes a portion of the local information that is lessthan a total amount of the local information received, therebyconserving bandwidth of the cellular network; wherein: receiving thelocal information from the device that is local relative to the one ormore intelligent cellular communications gateway devices furtherincludes receiving, by the one or more intelligent cellularcommunications gateway devices, at least one of first local informationfrom a device situated within an oil field or second local informationfrom a device situated within a power grid; analyzing the localinformation further includes analyzing, by the one or more intelligentcellular communications gateway devices, the at least one of the firstlocal information from the device situated within the oil field or thesecond local information from the device situated within the power grid:controlling the device that is local relative to the one or moreintelligent cellular communications gateway devices further includescontrolling, by the one or more intelligent cellular communicationsgateway devices, at least one of the device situated within the oilfield or the device situated within the power grid based on at least oneof the analyzed first local information or the analyzed second localinformation, respectively; filtering the local information furtherincludes filtering, by the one or mote intelligent cellularcommunications gateway devices, the at least one of the first localinformation or the second location information; and transmitting thefiltered local information further includes transmitting via thecellular network, by the one or more intelligent cellular communicationsgateway devices, the at least one of the first filtered localinformation or the second filtered location information, wherein thefirst filtered local information includes a portion of the first localinformation that is less than a total amount of the first localinformation received, and wherein the second filtered local informationincludes a portion of the second local information that is less than atotal amount of the second local information received, therebyconserving bandwidth of the cellular network.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein transmitting the customized application includes simultaneouslytransmitting, by the remote computer server, the customized applicationto a plurality of intelligent cellular communications gateway devices.3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: simultaneously Installingthe customized application on the plurality of intelligent cellularcommunications gateway devices; and simultaneously configuring thecustomized application on the plurality of intelligent cellularcommunications gateway devices.
 4. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: compressing, by the one or more intelligent cellularcommunications gateway devices, the filtered local information; andtransmitting via the cellular network, by the one or more intelligentcellular communications gateway devices, the filtered and compressedlocal information, to the remote computer server.
 5. The method of claim1, wherein receiving the local information from the device that is localrelative to the one or more intelligent cellular communications gatewaydevices further includes: receiving, by at least one of a serialinterface, a radio interface, and an Ethernet interface of the one ormore intelligent cellular communications gateway devices, the localinformation.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, bya user device, the customized application from the user; andtransmitting, by the user device, the customized application to the oneor more intelligent cellular communications gateway devices.
 7. Anintelligent cellular communications gateway device, comprising; aprocessor; a cellular network interface coupled to the processor; one ormore local input/output (I/O) interfaces coupled to the processor, theone or more local I/O interfaces being configured to receive localinformation from a local device that is local relative to theintelligent cellular communications gateway device; and one or morecustomized embedded applications operable by the processor, wherein theone or more customized embedded applications are configured to analyzethe local information, to control the local device based on the analyzedlocal information, and to filter the local information, and wherein: theprocessor is configured to transmit a portion of the local informationvia the cellular interface that is less than a total amount of the localinformation received; the local device includes at least one of a devicesituated within an oil field or a device situated within a power grid;the local information includes at least one of first local informationfrom the device situated within the oil field or second localinformation from the device situated within the power grid; the one ormore customized embedded applications are configured to analyze the atleast one of the first local information or the second localinformation; the one or more customized embedded applications areconfigured to control the at least one of the device situated within theoil field or the device situated within the power grid; the one or morecustomized embedded applications are configured to filter the at leastone of the first local information or the second local information; theprocessor is configured to transmit the at least one of the firstfiltered local information or the second filtered local information viathe cellular interface; the first filtered local information includes aportion of the first local information that is less than a total amountof the first local information received; and the second filtered localinformation includes a portion of the second local information that isless than a total amount of the second local information received,thereby conserving bandwidth of the cellular network.
 8. The intelligentcellular communications gateway device of claim 7, wherein the one ormore customized embedded applications include: a data analyzerconfigured to analyze the local information; a local device controllerconfigured to control the local device based on the analyzed localinformation; a data filter configured to filter the local information;and a data compressor configured to compress the filtered localinformation, wherein the processor is configured to transmit thefiltered and compressed local information via the cellular interface;and wherein the filtered and compressed local information is less thanthe total amount of the local information received.
 9. The intelligentcellular communications gateway device of claim 7, further comprising:an internal storage device coupled to the processor; a memory coupled tothe processor; an operating system associated with the processor and thememory; a plurality of communication busses configured to supportconnectivity to the cellular network interface and the one or more localI/O interfaces, wherein the one or more local I/O interfaces include atleast one of an Ethernet interface, a radio interface, or a serialinterface; and an externally attached storage device.
 10. Theintelligent cellular communications gateway device of claim 9, whereinthe one or more local I/O interfaces include at least one of a radiofrequency identification interface, a Zigbee interface, a Bluetoothinterface, a global positioning satellite interface, and a WI-FIinterface.
 11. The intelligent cellular communications gateway device ofclaim 9, wherein; the processor is configured to receive the one or morecustomized embedded applications via the externally attached storagedevice; the operating system is configured to automatically install theone or more customized embedded applications; and the operating systemis configured to automatically configure the one or more customizedembedded applications.
 12. The intelligent cellular communicationsgateway device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to:receive the one or more customized embedded applications via the one ormore local I/O interfaces; automatically install the one or morecustomized embedded applications; and automatically configure the one ormore customized embedded applications.
 13. The intelligent cellularcommunications gateway device of claim 7, wherein the processor isconfigured to: receive the one or more customized embedded applicationsvia the cellular network interface; automatically install the one ormore customized embedded applications; and automatically configure theone or more customized embedded applications.
 14. A system, forproviding intelligence at the edge using a plurality of cellularcommunications gateway devices, the system comprising: a remote computerserver configured to receive, via a first network, a customizedapplication from a user; and a plurality of intelligent cellularcommunication gateway devices, each configured to receive the customizedapplication from the remote computer server; wherein each of theintelligent cellular communications gateway devices is coupled to arespective local device and is configured to receive respective localinformation from respective the local device; wherein each of theplurality of intelligent cellular communications gateway devicesincludes: a processor; a cellular network interface coupled to theprocessor; one or more local input/output (I/O) interfaces coupled tothe processor, the one or more local I/O interfaces being configured toreceive local information from a local device that is local relative tothe intelligent cellular communications gateway device; and one or morecustomized embedded applications operable by the processor, wherein theone or more customized embedded, applications are configured to analyzethe local information, to control the local device based on the analyzedlocal information, and to filter the local information, and wherein: theprocessor is configured to transmit a portion of the local informationvia the cellular interface that is less than a total amount of the localinformation received; the local device includes at least one of a devicesituated within an oil field or a device situated within a power grid;the local information includes at least one of first local informationfrom the device situated within the oil field or second localinformation from the device situated within the power grid; the one ormore customized embedded applications are configured to analyze the atleast one of the first local information or the second localinformation; the one or more customized embedded applications areconfigured to control the at least one of the device situated within theoil field or the device situated within the power grid; the one or morecustomized embedded applications are configured to filter the at leastone of the first local information or the second local information; theprocessor is configured to transmit the at least one of the firstfiltered local information or the second filtered local information viathe cellular interface; the first filtered local information includes aportion of the first local information that is less than a total amountof the first local information received; and the second filtered localinformation includes a portion of the second local information that isless than a total amount of the second local information received,thereby conserving bandwidth of the cellular network.
 15. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the one or mom embedded applications of each of theplurality of intelligent cellular communications gateway devicesinclude: a data analyzer configured to analyze the respective localinformation; a local device controller configured to control therespective local device based on the analyzed local information; a datafilter configured to filter the respective local information; and a datacompressor configured to compress the filtered local information,wherein the processor is configured to transmit the filtered andcompressed local information via the cellular interface and the cellularnetwork to the remote computer server; and wherein the filtered andcompressed local information is less than the total amount of therespective local information received.
 16. The system of claim 14,wherein the processor of each of the plurality of intelligent cellularcommunications gateway devices is configured to: receive the one or morecustomized embedded applications via the one or more local I/Ointerfaces; automatically install the one or more customized embeddedapplications; and automatically configure the one or more customizedembedded applications.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the processorof each of the plurality of intelligent cellular communications gatewaydevices is configured to: receive the one or more customized embeddedapplications via the cellular network interface and the cellularnetwork; and automatically install the one or more customized embeddedapplications; and automatically configure the one or more customizedembedded applications.